A worker at a branch of Tesco in Exeter has said they "could not believe their eyes" as hundreds of bags of vegetables within their sell by date were binned.

The employee at Exeter Vale Extra superstore, who wishes to remain anonymous, told devonlive.com that Christmas stock management and waste targets were to blame - and claimed that no effort was made to contact local charities to donate the food.

The cages stuffed with food were spotted by a passing worker on Christmas Eve.

A spokesman for Tesco said: “All food in our stores that is fit for consumption is either sold or offered to charities and community groups through our Community Food Connection scheme, with our Exeter Vale Extra store so far providing more than 9,000 meals through the scheme to help people in need.

“Shortly before Christmas the Exeter Vale store received a delivery of potatoes that store colleagues found were unfit to sell or offer to local groups.